I am man enough to admit when I misspeak, and man enough to go even further and apologize. Sometimes I am better off eating words that I shouldn’t type.
Last week, I made a post about James River Assembly and their “Changing History” fundraising drive that many interpreted as vitrolic, bitter and downright mean. I intended the post to simply question why a large church needs more money so it can continue centralizing instead of distributing that money behind the scenes to people in need.
I still believe it’s a question that demands an answer, but the manner in which I posted it could have been a little more light-hearted and the tone could have been a bit lighter as well. Hindsight is always 20/20…in this case, it’s more like 20/15.
So I have to man up and apologize to everyone on here who read the post. I didn’t intend to anger anyone, but what I wrote did. I’m taking responsibility for it and I apologize.
I am prompted to do so for one reason.
Today I shot a news story on North Point Church helping out with an organization called Rural Compassion. To make a long story short, 350 volunteers gathered to put together disaster buckets, fill bags with clothing and bind books for kids. All of these in an effort to stamp out poverty here in the U.S.
After the shoot, I thought of the people there that I met, and as I sat in the Springfield Acura waiting room as my car was being attended to — I thought of how NPC is a relatively large congregation, yet here they were doing something to help their community and their nation as a whole.
At that moment I ate my words that I posted about JRA. If NPC is doing something like that, JRA surely has to be doing something good.
I had to swallow my pride and now I am publicly doing so in a manner that, quite frankly, is a bit tough — I wish I were not so opinionated and sharp in times like these.
I am reminded of the time that Jesus’ disciples walked about and saw people doing the same things they did: believing in the same God and calling on the name of Jesus to heal diseases, ailments and frailties. What did the disciples do? They told them to stop.
To which Jesus simply replied (Mark 9:40, look it up), “If they’re not against me, they’re for me.”
Bingo. That does it. Sorry it took me so long to realize the message, Mom, Dad, Jason, Wally, et al.
Going forward I shall strive to try harder to focus on the good in situations such as this, rather than the bad. I’m still not JRA’s #1 fan but at least I have some new perspective now.
So…about eating words I shouldn’t have typed, I’ve eaten them all now and left out all the P’s and Q’s, and calling them my own so I can mind them and them alone.
Dad says:
Good job, son! I’m glad that you are able to see a little bit more of the big picture of what God has going on. And by the way, did you know that NPC came from JRA? They felt they needed to spread out and look what happened. Take care kiddo. Love ya!
Sybil says:
Bud your words touched my heart.
Jack says:
Very interesting discussion on the post you refer to. Some sage advice within those comments. One thought crossed my mind, though: What would the church be like these days had Martin Luther heeded all of that advice?
We will never know, of course, as such discussion is just an intellectual exercise, but still ….
Chris says:
Jack–
I think if criticism is God-inspired then it’s going to really ruffle some feathers, but ultimately for a good reason. God wants us all to change for the better and to consistently model our faith to match up with that of Christ and the Scriptures.
Otherwise, our words fall on unreceiving ears.
For me, I don’t care for JRA and I won’t be going back, simply because for myself, there is no real sense of community there. In fact I still stand behind my questions:
Does the leadership know who you are?
Do you know anything more about your Pastor than what you see of him on the stage each Sunday?
Will they know who you are after you’re gone?
For me the answers were no, no and no, and the solution was simple: attend elsewhere.
Could they refine some of the things they do to make a better impression with the community? Absolutely. But was it my place to criticize the church in the manner I did? I’d say no.
Jason says:
Chris, you made valid, honest criticisms and the responses of those attacking you in defense of the church without even stopping to ask if you were valid were out of line. I don’t care that it’s your family. They’re still wrong.
What you talked about has little to do with Mark 9:40, Chris. Just because someone is “for” God doesn’t mean they’re sinless, that they’re doing all they are called to do or that they aren’t doing things that are not in the will of the Lord. Just because someone is “for” God doesn’t mean you are to turn a blind eye when they do something that runs counter to God’s teaching.
Honestly, Chris, I’m a little disappointed to see how you wrote this. I feel like you bowed down to the those who attacked you for simply speaking the truth. You did learn a lesson here but I’m not sure it’s the one you think you did.
Jason B. says:
Jason, I respect your opinion. But simply because you believe my family to be wrong does not mean we have not considered the validity of my brother’s argument.
I almost put an entirely different comment down in response to you. But I felt it would have been in the same accusing attitude I detected in yours.
I first want to state that my family is very close. We are constantly engaged in such discussions with one another. I must admit, we a close and mature enough to consider if the other side has a point. Open-mindedness is ever present in our discussions.
This very subject has been discussed several times before between the four of us. I understand that you haven not been present or aware of these discussions. So I ask you one thing…. Would you please re-read your comment and ask the Lord if this was posted in the right spirit? Was it one to simply re-enforce your point? Or was it to accuse my family of being narrow and close-minded (as was inferred in your first paragraph)?
I ask that you pray on this and listen to the Spirit. I do not hold judgment against you, but rather concern. I love you as a brother in the Lord.
I want more than anything for you to become closer to Christ. So when you pray, be open to what the Spirit says. You may disagree all you desire, and I respect and have served my country for you to have that freedom. But I want you to be able to disagree without accusing, and to love those you disagree with. Remember, it is the devil who is the accuser of the brethren, not us!
I love you as my brother in Christ, and will be praying for both of us that we may draw ever closer to Christ, and put on His mannerisms!
Chris says:
Jason W. –
MY PARENTS do not attack me. I do not consider guidance from parents to be a personal attack. If what my Dad and Mom said was a personal attack, then maybe they were wrong every time they disciplined me for the things I used to do as a kid.
I am my own person and ate my words of my own volition. By saying that I “bowed down to those who attacked me,” you have crossed a MAJOR line. You implied that (1) the very parents who instilled in me the foundation for the belief system I have now attacked me for my beliefs, and (2) that I am somehow soft.
To call my family wrong on MY BLOG is a direct mortar round fired at myself, Sybil, Jerry and Jason Brewer — and I am quite surprised you would do such a thing.
I know where I stand in Christ. My criticisms of JRA stand but the manner in which I wrote them does not. The body of Christ needs unity and my manner of dialogue did not promote that. To that end, I sinned.
You have NO RIGHT to disrespect my family on my website. Simply put, and as my brother succinctly and respectfully stated, you are not aware of my family’s conversations about the subject of James River Assembly, and as such, calling that dialogue that spills over onto the Internet (because I invited such dialogue) an attack is unwarranted.
Before moving to Missouri, and even during time at Crimson House, my parents have been respected ministers in their church. I would hope that you would trust and recognize not only their family link to me, but their spiritual authority based on where they have been before.
Whether you apologize or stand by your statements is up to you, but do recognize that you have angered me severely and you probably will not want to cross me for an indefinite period of time.
—-
Jason B.
Thank you for your comment, you said it in a better fashion than I could.
Jason B. says:
I love you bro! And I am honestly glad you saw your attitude needed changing. I talked to dad and mom, and all three of us have been praying you would see this.
I am so proud of you for being mature and realizing your err! I am proud to call you my brother. That was a sign to me and our parents that you truly are a man of God, and that you are open to learn and change when He desires you to.
On another note, we need to walk in forgiveness and love, not anger. Being angry is alright, it is not a sin. I was very angry upon reading that comment. But the word says to not let the sun go down upon your wrath. I prayed after typing a very harsh response, and the Lord corrected me. I asked God to forgive me as I forgave him. We need to not hold grudges.
I love you man! And I am glad that you are maturing as a christian. Remember, we are all wrong in a multitude of ways. But it is the continual pressing forward in Christ that changes us and helps us to continuously grow in the Lord! It is a WALK, not a stand while God runs around us in circles.
Keep up the good work man! And remember, it is Christ, not us, who causes these changes!
-Jas
Jason B. says:
BTW, the harsh response I spoke of in the third paragraph was not posted. I meant to add that the Lord guided me and gave me the right way to word it, and I re-wrote my response.
Chris says:
Jason B –
I can be angry but I won’t act upon it negatively. What Jason did was wrong, especially since he doesn’t know Mom and Dad.
Jason B. says:
True, but your sentence “you probably will not want to cross me for an indefinite period of time” was pretty rough, don’t you think?
Jason B. says:
On a separate note, I tried calling you and it went straight to your voicemail. Can you give me a ring?
And my buddy Fortin is PCSing to Ft. Lewis. I told him I grew up around that area. He was like, “Is there anything to do?” I laughed so hard, and proceeded to take 20 minutes to rattle off some of the beauties and wonders of the Great Northwest!
-Jas
Chris says:
I don’t think my statement was rough. If someone angers you, until you figure out what to do about it in a positive manner, the rational thing to do is just to stay away.
Jason B. says:
There we go. I was hoping you meant something like that. Just needed some clarification, cuz it could have been taken wrong. “Wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Love you man!
-Jas
Jason says:
I posted my response based on what I saw on this blog. Looking at only what we see here, we see your family ganging up on you when I don’t think you were wrong in calling out what you saw wrong at JRA.
I’m sorry if there was more here than meets the eye. I apologize for having your back when I thought you were being unfairly attacked (and it sure looked that way.)
Accept my apology. You won’t have to worry about comments on your blog from me again.
Jason says:
Oh, and apologies to his family for basing my opinion on what they posted solely on what I saw here and misinterpreting their intentions.
God bless you all in the future.
And on a side note to Jason B, my attitude came from defending someone I thought was a good friend when I thought he was being wrongly criticized and condemned.
Jason B. says:
Jason, first off, there is a lot of posting under the best name ever “Jason” on this site. I love our name.
Second, I understand, but making a quick judgment is what you did. And yet, that was the very accusation you came at my family with, saying we were wrong in doing so.
Again, I respect your beliefs, and don’t think that you should stop posting. We all need to take a breather from this, forgive everyone all around, and ask that God gives us His spirit of love. Division is not a good thing, even if only a website.
Everybody should forgive each other, and take a break for a while. Once we have donned Christ’s attitudes, we should come back together on here, and continue talking to each other.
-Jas
Chris says:
Apologies accepted and appreciated.
Let’s move on.
Jack says:
Very interesting discussion on the post you refer to. Some sage advice within those comments. One thought crossed my mind, though: What would the church be like these days had Martin Luther heeded all of that advice?
We will never know, of course, as such discussion is just an intellectual exercise, but still ….